Motor mount for azimuthing pod

Abstract

A system includes an azimuthing pod configured to be attached to the hull of a ship, a superconducting motor positioned within the azimuthing pod, a refrigeration system including a compressor and a cryogenic refrigeration module coupled to the compressor. The system further comprises a transfer system configured to circulate a coolant between the cryogenic refrigeration module and the superconducting machine, at least one of the compressor and the cryogenic refrigeration module being positioned within the hull of the ship.

1. A system for use with a ship having a hull, the system comprising:
 an azimuthing pod configured to be attached to the hull; 
 a rotatable support member configured to interface a stationary reference frame in the hull to a rotating reference frame in the azimuthing pod; 
 a superconducting motor positioned within the azimuthing pod; 
 a refrigeration system including: 
 a compressor; 
 a cryogenic refrigeration module coupled to the compressor; and 
 a transfer system configured to circulate a coolant between the cryogenic refrigeration module and the superconducting motor, the cryogenic refrigeration module and the compressor being positioned within the hull of the ship and at least one of the cryogenic refrigeration module and the compressor being positioned on the rotatable support member within the hull of the ship. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1  wherein both the compressor and cryogenic refrigeration module are in the hull, the transfer system including transfer lines extending through the rotatable support member and between the module and superconducting motor. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 2  wherein the transfer lines extend through a center axis of the rotatable support member. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 1  wherein the rotatable support member is configured to rotate without limit about an axis of rotation. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the coolant is selected from a group consisting of helium, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, neon, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 1  wherein the superconducting motor includes high temperature superconducting windings. 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the rotatable reference frame is configured to rotate without limit about an axis of rotation. 
   
   
     8. A system comprising:
 a superconducting machine disposed in a rotatable reference frame; 
 a refrigeration system including: 
 a compressor positioned; 
 a cryogenic refrigeration module coupled to the compressor; and 
 a transfer system configured to circulate a coolant between the cryogenic refrigeration module and the superconducting machine, wherein at least one of the compressor and the cryogenic refrigeration module is positioned on the rotatable reference frame. 
 
   
   
     9. The system of  claim 8  further comprising a housing in the rotatable reference frame for enclosing the superconducting machine. 
   
   
     10. The system of  claim 8  wherein the rotatable reference frame has an axis about which the superconducting machine rotates and the superconducting machine includes a rotor assembly which, in operation, rotates about an axis of the superconducting machine that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rotatable reference frame.